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John Biancardi

Sunday Schooled

Top of the Class

As the Holiday season comes to an end, so does the fantasy season. Hopefully your team was able to reward you with a gift, and, if not, there is always next year. This season featured some truly remarkable fantasy performances, and Week 17 was no exception.

I hope everyone has a very safe and happy New Year, and hopefully 2010 shows us some exciting Playoff football. Without further adieu, here are the players who are taking home the hardware this season.

Quarterbacks:

Valedictorian:Peyton Manning – El Capitan was absolutely automatic all season long, although his 7-point performance in the fantasy championship is sure to leave a sour taste in the mouths of owners who took the risk and started him. Either way, Peyton is almost a lock to win the MVP award and, if he doesn't, I will personally send a copy of his "Cut that meat" commercial to the NFL headquarters until they change their minds. Oh, the horror.Highlight Game: Week 3 vs. Arizona (379 Pass Yds, 4 TDs, 1 INT)

Salutatorian:Aaron Rodgers – A-Rod was right on Manning's heels with six appearances in the Top 5, and he actually ended up finishing the season as the number one fantasy quarterback. The Packers aren't shy about passing the ball, and Rodgers was the right man for the job, as he threw for multiple scores in ten games this season. He should be the first quarterback off the board on Draft Day, and he might even be worthy of a late first round pick, depending on your scoring format.Highlight Game: Week 15 vs. Pittsburgh (383 Pass Yds, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 22 Rush Yds, 1 TD, 1 two-point conversion)

Valedictorian:Chris Johnson – CJ made six appearances in the Top 5 this season and, with 2,006 rushing yards, I think it's safe to say that owners got a bang for their buck on Draft Day. He will be the consensus number one pick heading into next season, and he has a chance to do some special things before it's all said and done. All he did to end the season was go out with eleven consecutive 100-yard games.Highlight Game: Week 8 vs. Jacksonville (228 Rush Yds, 2 TDs, 11 Rec Yds)

Salutatorian:Maurice Jones-Drew – MJD may not have closed out the season the way many owners would have liked, but he had some monster games to make owners have a selective memory – he made four appearances in the Top 5. Mo-Jo is still a clear top three or four pick next season, and, while his heavy workload this year is some cause for concern, he is the Jags only realistic shot of winning. I know that, you know that, and one can only hope the Jaguars know that as well.Highlight Game: Week 8 vs. Tennessee (177 Rush Yds on 8 carries, 2 TDs)

Valedictorian:Vincent Jackson – He may not have been this season's top wideout, but he led all receivers with five appearances in the Top 5. V-Jax got in sync early and often with Philip Rivers in '09, and you have to figure that success will only increase heading into next season. Like MJD, he didn't end the season as well as expected, but you can't forget that there were a stretch of games to start the season when he scored in seven of his first nine games. Highlight Game: Week 15 vs. Cincinnati (5 Rec, 108 Yds, 2 TDs)

Salutatorian:Andre Johnson – Unlike his fellow receiver above, AJ closed out the fantasy season scorching hot, leaving his owners smiling all the way to a championship. Back-to-back 190-yard games in Weeks 14 and 15 cemented Johnson's status as this season's top receiver, while also solidifying his status as next year's number one wideout off the board. Highlight Game: Week 14 vs. Seattle (11 Rec, 193 Yds, 2 TDs)

Valedictorian:Dallas Clark – No surprise here, as Dallas Clark made a living in the Top 5, week-in and week-out. If you take Week 17 out of the equation, Clark nudged out Vernon Davis for top honors at tight end. Clark finished the season with 100 receptions for 1,106 yards and, to put that in perspective, that would have made him the tenth ranked wideout. Absolutely remarkable numbers for a guy who just keeps getting better.Highlight Game: Week 2 vs. Miami (7 Rec, 183 Yds, 1 TD)

Salutatorian:Vernon Davis – Talk about a coming out party. Davis scored in all but six games this season, as he finally managed to live up to the hype that had many labeling him a bust. He finished the year with 13 scores, as he was absolutely lethal once the 49ers got into the red zone. Mr. Myoplex technically finished the season as the top tight end, and it will be interesting to see how high he goes in drafts come August.Highlight Game: Week 7 vs. Houston (7 Rec, 93 Yds, 3 TDs)

As the Holiday season comes to an end, so does the fantasy season. Hopefully your team was able to reward you with a gift, and, if not, there is always next year. This season featured some truly remarkable fantasy performances, and Week 17 was no exception.

I hope everyone has a very safe and happy New Year, and hopefully 2010 shows us some exciting Playoff football. Without further adieu, here are the players who are taking home the hardware this season.

Quarterbacks:

Valedictorian:Peyton Manning – El Capitan was absolutely automatic all season long, although his 7-point performance in the fantasy championship is sure to leave a sour taste in the mouths of owners who took the risk and started him. Either way, Peyton is almost a lock to win the MVP award and, if he doesn't, I will personally send a copy of his "Cut that meat" commercial to the NFL headquarters until they change their minds. Oh, the horror.Highlight Game: Week 3 vs. Arizona (379 Pass Yds, 4 TDs, 1 INT)

Salutatorian:Aaron Rodgers – A-Rod was right on Manning's heels with six appearances in the Top 5, and he actually ended up finishing the season as the number one fantasy quarterback. The Packers aren't shy about passing the ball, and Rodgers was the right man for the job, as he threw for multiple scores in ten games this season. He should be the first quarterback off the board on Draft Day, and he might even be worthy of a late first round pick, depending on your scoring format.Highlight Game: Week 15 vs. Pittsburgh (383 Pass Yds, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 22 Rush Yds, 1 TD, 1 two-point conversion)

Valedictorian:Chris Johnson – CJ made six appearances in the Top 5 this season and, with 2,006 rushing yards, I think it's safe to say that owners got a bang for their buck on Draft Day. He will be the consensus number one pick heading into next season, and he has a chance to do some special things before it's all said and done. All he did to end the season was go out with eleven consecutive 100-yard games.Highlight Game: Week 8 vs. Jacksonville (228 Rush Yds, 2 TDs, 11 Rec Yds)

Salutatorian:Maurice Jones-Drew – MJD may not have closed out the season the way many owners would have liked, but he had some monster games to make owners have a selective memory – he made four appearances in the Top 5. Mo-Jo is still a clear top three or four pick next season, and, while his heavy workload this year is some cause for concern, he is the Jags only realistic shot of winning. I know that, you know that, and one can only hope the Jaguars know that as well.Highlight Game: Week 8 vs. Tennessee (177 Rush Yds on 8 carries, 2 TDs)

Valedictorian:Vincent Jackson – He may not have been this season's top wideout, but he led all receivers with five appearances in the Top 5. V-Jax got in sync early and often with Philip Rivers in '09, and you have to figure that success will only increase heading into next season. Like MJD, he didn't end the season as well as expected, but you can't forget that there were a stretch of games to start the season when he scored in seven of his first nine games. Highlight Game: Week 15 vs. Cincinnati (5 Rec, 108 Yds, 2 TDs)

Salutatorian:Andre Johnson – Unlike his fellow receiver above, AJ closed out the fantasy season scorching hot, leaving his owners smiling all the way to a championship. Back-to-back 190-yard games in Weeks 14 and 15 cemented Johnson's status as this season's top receiver, while also solidifying his status as next year's number one wideout off the board. Highlight Game: Week 14 vs. Seattle (11 Rec, 193 Yds, 2 TDs)

Valedictorian:Dallas Clark – No surprise here, as Dallas Clark made a living in the Top 5, week-in and week-out. If you take Week 17 out of the equation, Clark nudged out Vernon Davis for top honors at tight end. Clark finished the season with 100 receptions for 1,106 yards and, to put that in perspective, that would have made him the tenth ranked wideout. Absolutely remarkable numbers for a guy who just keeps getting better.Highlight Game: Week 2 vs. Miami (7 Rec, 183 Yds, 1 TD)

Salutatorian:Vernon Davis – Talk about a coming out party. Davis scored in all but six games this season, as he finally managed to live up to the hype that had many labeling him a bust. He finished the year with 13 scores, as he was absolutely lethal once the 49ers got into the red zone. Mr. Myoplex technically finished the season as the top tight end, and it will be interesting to see how high he goes in drafts come August.Highlight Game: Week 7 vs. Houston (7 Rec, 93 Yds, 3 TDs)